South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Thursday. (Jung Yeon-Je/Pool Photo via AP)

(Newser)
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Concerned about a possible war on the Korean peninsula? Don't be—it won't happen, says South Korea, which claims President Trump won't strike North Korea without its say-so. "No matter what options the United States and President Trump want to use, they have promised to have full consultation with South Korea and get our consent in advance," President Moon Jae-in said in a televised press conference Thursday, per the New York Times. "This is a firm agreement between South Korea and the United States. The people can be assured that there will be no war." How committed the Trump administration is to this apparent agreement is unclear, however, given conflicting statements from government officials.

Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for instance, just spent three days trying to convince China to take a tougher stance with North Korea—noting the US is ready for military intervention if need be—only to have Steve Bannon state in an interview that "there's no military solution." Trump's chief strategist instead suggested 28,500 US troops might withdraw from South Korea if it means an end to North Korea's nuclear program, though he told the American Prospect such a move was unlikely. War is just as unlikely, according to Moon, who isn't taking Trump's recent "fire and fury" comments at face value. They were likely meant to "put pressure on North Korea," not show "an intent to realize a military action," he says.

War and death are inevitable with the human species. Doubtful, unless we are attacked, we would preempt one on NK as many tens of thousands of South Koreans would die and since China would come in on the side of NK, the only way to stop them would be to use nukes. During this, Russia would use the attention to completely take over the Ukraine and any other areas formerly under the control of the Soviet Union as well as strengthen their position in Syria. But no need, as sooner or later, nukes will be obtained by elements with no qualms nor fear of death and war will spread across the globe like a wildfire.

ChesterRush

Aug 17, 2017 9:41 PM CDT

This idiot president allowed "comfort women" statues on public busses. The South Koreans really need to grow up and get over WW2.

EdCoulter

Aug 17, 2017 6:27 PM CDT

SK could lose everything they have built for many generations in seconds due to a single rash decision by someone who couldn't even point to the country on a map of Asia.